Judo Glossary

The gentle way

Judo is a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport built around balance, timing, control, and respect.

Founder of Judo

Kanō Jigorō founded Judo in Japan. His ideas connect physical practice with balance, efficient use of energy, and mutual benefit.

The original Judo school

The Kodokan is the Judo school founded by Kano Jigoro in Tokyo in 1882.

Judo's older martial-art roots

Judo developed from older ju-jitsu traditions, with Kano Jigoro reshaping practice around education, safety, and principles.

European Judo organization

The European Judo Union organizes and develops Judo across Europe.

International Judo organization

The International Judo Federation is the global organization for international Judo competition.

A person who practices Judo

Judoka is the shared name for people who practice Judo, across ranks, roles, and experience levels.

Teacher

Sensei is the instructor leading practice. In class, watch the sensei first, then copy the movement carefully.

The person doing the technique

Tori is the partner who performs the throw, pin, or movement being practiced.

The person receiving the technique

Uke helps the practice by moving honestly, staying controlled, and using good ukemi when needed.

Training place

The dojo is where practice happens. Good dojo habits start with listening, bowing, and respectful training.

Mat

Tatami are the mats used for Judo practice. The word helps you connect dojo instructions to the training space.

Training uniform

Gi is the uniform worn for Judo. Coaches often use the word when talking about grips, sleeves, and lapels.

Judo uniform

The judogi is the full Judo uniform: jacket, trousers, and belt. It is built to withstand heavy gripping and throwing.

Jacket

The uwagi is the jacket of the judogi. Its strong lapels and sleeves are where most grips are taken.

Trousers

The zubon are the trousers of the judogi. They are reinforced to handle kneeling, groundwork, and leg grips.

Belt

Obi means belt. Coaches may use obi when talking about tying, rank, or competition belt colors.

Formal kneeling

Seiza is formal kneeling. Some dojos use it at the start or end of class, and some offer alternatives when kneeling is uncomfortable.

Bow

Rei means bow, a sign of respect before and after practice, partner work, and competition.

Begin

In practice or competition, hajime tells judoka that the action should start.

Stop or wait

Matte pauses the action. When you hear it, stop, make space, and wait for the next instruction.

That is all

Sore-made ends the match or practice exchange. When you hear it, stop and wait for the result or next instruction.

Don't move

Sono-mama freezes both judoka in place during ne-waza, usually so the referee can address a penalty or injury without losing position.

Continue

Yoshi restarts the action after sono-mama, once both judoka are back in their frozen positions.

Breakfall or receiving movement

Ukemi is how judoka receive movement and fall with control. It is essential before throws are practiced with a partner.

Forward breakfall

Mae-ukemi is forward falling practice. It teaches how to receive forward movement with control.

Side breakfall

Yoko-ukemi is side falling practice. It helps judoka learn to protect themselves when movement goes sideways.

Backward breakfall

Ushiro-ukemi is backward falling practice. It is a core skill for receiving backward movement.

Posture

Shisei is posture. Good posture helps you move, grip, and stay balanced without relying only on strength.

Natural posture

Shizen-tai is a natural standing posture. It supports mobile, balanced movement instead of stiffness.

Defensive posture

Jigo-tai is a defensive posture. It can help you resist briefly, but staying defensive too long can limit your movement.

Free practice

Randori is live practice with a partner. It builds on control, timing, and agreed training rules.

Gripping form

Kumi-kata is how judoka take grips on the jacket. Simple grips help balance, control, distance, and connection.

Same-sided stance

Ai-yotsu means both judoka grip on the same side, both right or both left, so they stand with the same foot forward.

Opposite-sided stance

Kenka-yotsu means the judoka grip on opposite sides, one right and one left, so they stand with opposite feet forward.

Favorite technique

Tokui-waza is a judoka's favorite or special technique. The fighting stance is usually chosen to support it.

Student grade

Kyu grades are the ranks before black belt. They mark progress through layers of skill and understanding.

Black belt grade

Dan grades are black belt ranks. They recognize deeper study, service, and technical understanding.

Throwing techniques

Nage-waza is the family of Judo throws. Throws use timing, balance, and position instead of raw strength.

Breaking balance

Kuzushi is the first big idea in throwing. Before a throw works well, uke's balance must be disturbed.

Entry or fitting in

Tsukuri is moving your body into position for the throw after balance has been broken.

Execution

Kake is the finishing action of the throw. Good kake follows good kuzushi and tsukuri.

Floating hip throw

Uki-goshi is an early hip throw. Tori turns in and uses rotation to make uke float over the hip line.

Major hip throw

O-goshi is a basic hip throw. The name and broad idea come before technical detail.

Hip wheel

Koshi-guruma is a turn-in hip throw where tori wheels uke over the hip line with upper-body control.

One-arm shoulder throw

Ippon-seoi-nage is a shoulder throw that controls one of uke's arms while tori turns in under the upper body.

Two-hand shoulder throw

Morote-seoi-nage is a shoulder throw where both hands keep their grip. Tori turns the lapel around the palm and brings the bent arm's elbow under uke's armpit.

Lift-pull hip throw

Tsuri-komi-goshi is a hip throw where the lapel hand keeps the basic grip. The elbow slides under uke's armpit and tori bends the knees deeply before throwing.

Left-side major hip throw

Hidari-o-goshi is O-goshi performed to the left side.

Major outer drop

O-soto-otoshi drops uke straight backward over tori's outside leg, without reaping the leg away.

Advancing foot sweep

De-ashi-barai sweeps the foot as it advances or becomes light. Timing and upper-body control matter more than force.

Major outer reap

O-soto-gari is a common throw that reaps from the outside. It depends on balance, control, and ukemi.

Foot or leg techniques

Ashi-waza are techniques that use the foot or leg, often to sweep, reap, or block at the right moment.

Hip techniques

Koshi-waza are throwing techniques where the hip is central to the throwing action.

Hand techniques

Te-waza are throwing techniques where hand and arm action are central to the throw.

Ground techniques

Ne-waza includes pins, turnovers, escapes, and submissions. This curriculum starts with pins, control, and escapes.

Grappling or control techniques

Katame-waza are control techniques, including pins, strangles, and arm locks. This curriculum introduces holding ideas first.

Holding techniques

Osaekomi-waza are pins used to control an opponent on their back or side during groundwork.

Scarf hold

Kesa-gatame is a common pin. It uses chest pressure and arm control rather than squeezing with strength.

Shoulder hold

Kata-gatame pins uke by pressing uke's own arm against the head. Tori closes a ring with both arms around uke's arm, head, and shoulder.

Side four-quarter hold

Yoko-shiho-gatame is a side control pin and part of the broad hold-down family.

Chest hold

Mune-gatame is a side-control hold from the Yoko-shiho-gatame family where tori's chest presses across uke's chest.

Vertical four-quarter hold

Tate-shiho-gatame controls along uke's body from a mounted position and belongs to the hold-down family.

Reverse scarf hold

Gyaku-kesa-gatame is a reverse scarf-hold family position related to Kesa-gatame.

Upper four-quarter hold

Kami-shiho-gatame controls from near uke's head and belongs to the hold-down family.

Judo match or contest

Shiai is the competition side of Judo. This curriculum focuses on the main calls and broad match ideas.

Full competition space

The competition area is the full matted space used for a contest, including contest and safety areas.

Main contest space

The contest area is the main area where the match action takes place.

Safety border

The safety area surrounds the contest area and gives extra space when action moves toward the edge.

Clear space around the mat

The free zone is the clear space around the competition area.

Full point

Ippon usually ends the match. It can come from a strong throw, a hold-down, a submission, or accumulated scores.

Almost ippon

Waza-ari is a major score that is not quite ippon. Two waza-ari scores combine to end the match.

Small score

Yuko is a smaller score below waza-ari. A judoka can earn several yuko in a match, but they never combine into waza-ari or ippon.

Two waza-ari combine to ippon

Waza-ari awasete ippon is called when a judoka earns a second waza-ari in the same match. The two scores combine into a match-ending ippon.

Hold-down is on

Osaekomi is called when one judoka pins the other with control. The hold can score if control continues long enough.

Hold-down is broken

Toketa is called when an osaekomi hold-down is no longer controlled. It means the hold has been broken.

Penalty

Shido is a penalty for rule violations or negative play. Referees use it to keep matches active and fair.

Disqualification

Hansoku-make is a disqualification for a serious rule violation or accumulated penalties. It is the strongest penalty call.